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UNITED STATES `PATENT OFFICE.v

ARTHUR W. COX, OF AUBURN, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO DANIEL M. MAHONEY, OF BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND.

BOOT-TREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 224,517, dated February 17, 1880.

' Application led September 22, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it 4known that LARTHUR W. Cox, of Auburn, county of Androscoggin, State of Maine, have in vented an Improvement in Boot-Trees, of which'y the following description, in connection withV the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to boot-trees more especially adapted to the manufacture of indiarubber boots; but the invention is applicable to trees for other kinds of boots.

In this my invention the boottree is shown as composed of cast metal, and, in accordance with my invention, the leg'and foot are made hollow and sectional, or in two or more parts, in order that they may be readily cast without the use of cores, and the foot, adapted to at the proper time be fixed in position at the lower end of the leg, is so joined with a iiexible connecting devicea chain, wire, or thong-as to permit the footwto be moved ont of its xed engagement with the leg and turn to occupy a position at the end of the leg,- as denoted in dotted lines, whereby the leg and foot may be readily and easily drawn from the boot at the proper time,when the foot may be quickly turned and ixed in position upon the leg, the connecting device being then fastened to hold the/foot in proper engagement with or in proper positionupon the leg.

Figure l represents, in side elevation, in full lines, a boot-tree containing my invention,

a part of one-half of the leg being broken away to show the interior of the other half, and the dotted lines showing the foot dropped to the end of the leg, as it will be when withdrawingthe tree from the boot; and Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the leg and foot.

The boot-leg is shown as composed of two metal shells, ct b, preferably cast-metal shells, secured or xed together by means of rivets or bolts c d. l

The lower front part of the leg has a flat face, as denoted by the line c, and a slot or recess of suitable width to receive the keel f of the foot g, the said keel at its upper portion having a tapering projection, h, to engage a.

portion, fi, ofthe shell of the leg, as in Fig. 1, the upper end, j, of the foot bearing against the flat face of the leg, thereby preventing the foot frombeing turned away from the leg 11ntil after it has been moved a short distance on the leg in the direction of the arrow on the foot, when it may be turned into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. l. This foot part cannot, however, be so moved or turned until after it is released by disen gagin g the attaching-hook or equivalent, Z, of thefoot and leg connecting device m, preferably made as a chain, and flexible, while the hook will preferably be a springhook, to engage an adjustable plate or projection, n, attached to the leg.

The lugs or ears o o, attached to the inner ysides ofthe leg parts a b, are provided with holes 2 to receive a pin, by which the boot-leg may be kept in upright position when being subjected to the curing-heat necessary for india-rubber boots.

The foot g is composed of two shells, 4 5, connected together bya rivet or bolt, 6, and rivets 7 8.

The boot-tree is very light as compared with some other trees, is very strong, Aeasily made, and easily manipulated.

It is obvious that my method of applying the foot to the leg and releasing it so as to be turned aside, may be practiced to advantage in a" tree wherein the leg was cast in one piece with a core, and also with the foot so cast, or with other usual form of foot.

The form ot' the attaching device l may be changed without departing from my invention, and, if desired, I may connect with the ring part of l a small wire-or chain, as at p, which will prevent the attaching device falling too low to be readily pickedup by the' iinger, or so that the foot becomes completely detached from the leg.

I claim- 1. As an improved article of manufacture', a boot-tree composed of a shell-like leg and foot, fitted together as described, and a ilexible connecting device, to hold the foot and leg together'andpermit the foot to be disengaged from the leg and turned, as desired, to the end of the leg, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the foot and leg,

tted together substantially as described, of

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of or two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR W. COX.

Witnesses WM. H. FARNHAM, FRED. W. LAWRY. 

